Sizzling Stars: With Korda, anything is possible in Paris

Deep Roland Garros runs are in the forecast for a few promising players that have proved themselves not only in 2021 but for quite some time. Sizzling Stars takes a closer look at these piping hot competitors that are ready to serve up bagels and French baguettes.

If one were to watch a Sebastian Korda match without knowing the score, it would often look like he's in control and holds a substantial lead. There's no yelling or racquet throwing in-between points, instead he just simply fixes his strings and focuses in on the task at hand, never taking time to revisit the past.

It's his poker player demeanor that always gives him an opportunity to do something big, and last year in just his second Grand Slam main draw showing he did just that. Since his run through Roland Garros qualifying into the last 16 in 2020, he's continued to make his mark at some on some of the biggest stages in the game.

On the terre battue in Paris anything is possible with this sizzling star.

Roland Garros Run

Heading into 2020's rescheduled Roland Garros no one could have predicted the American would roll through qualifying without dropping a single set. Korda also posted a 7-5, 6-2 score over Russia's now piping hot Aslan Karatsev in the final round of qualifying.

From there he would claim three main-draw matches on the red stuff, including a notable four-set win over countryman John Isner. Korda who always admired Rafael Nadal growing up saw his childhood dream of playing him come true in Paris. Although he fell in straight sets to the Spaniard, he certainly finished the tournament with a new level of confidence and experience.

Starting Strong

In his very first tournament of the season, Korda hit the ground running on his home state of Florida at the Delray Beach Open. Ranked No. 119, he claimed upset wins over Tommy Paul, John Isner and Cameron Norrie to reach the event's final. His run would end at the hands of Hubert Hurkacz, but he'd quickly get back to his winning ways and pick up a Challenger title in France the following week.

Caution When Hot

The Next Gen contender relishes playing on the biggest stages and embraces each opportunity he gets when going up against the word's best. In the second round of the Miami Open, he upset world No. 17 Fabio Fognini in a gritty three-set affair. From there, he once again dominated the court against Karatsev who came into the event having just won his first ATP tour-level event in Dubai.

Big win after big win, he had enough fuel in the tank to notch one more upset win over Diego Schwartzman. The 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over the Argentine marked the biggest win of his career and propelled him into his first ever Masters 1000 quarterfinal. When Korda is hot any player he faces should proceed with caution.

Last week at the Emilio-Romagna Open in Parma, Italy, the sizzling Korda steamrolled through the draw without dropping a set en route to his first ATP title. It was a shockingly dominant performance, and no doubt the first of many, many titles for the most promising prospect in American men's tennis.

When Korda finds his rhythm he's proving that few can match him on a tennis court. Under the lights on Court Philippe-Chatrier is where this kid could shine.